Choline Chloride in Liquid Guar Formulations

ABSTRACT

A concentrated adjuvant composition comprises an incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer suspended in a liquid medium, a suspension agent and a hydration inhibitor component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/792,750, filed Jul. 7, 2015, hereby incorporated by reference,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/021,262 filed Jul. 7, 2014, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to formulations having concentrated suspensionsof water-soluble polymers and, in particular, to concentratedsuspensions of polysaccharide particles.

BACKGROUND

Water-soluble polymers, particularly polysaccharide polymers, such as,for example, guar, guar derivatives, starches, and cellulosic polymers,are commercially available materials used in a variety of applications,including as ingredients in food products, personal care compositions,agricultural pesticide compositions, and compositions, such asfracturing fluids, for use in oilfield applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In many agricultural applications, a polymer in the form of a dry powderis added to an aqueous medium and dissolved to form a viscous aqueoussolution. In some applications, it would also be desirable to provide aliquid concentrate that has a high polymer content and that could simplybe diluted to the desired end-use concentration for agricultural uses.This approach can be difficult, for example, concentrated aqueouspolysaccharide polymer solutions tend to be highly viscous and difficultto handle. Often times, ammonium containing compounds such as ammoniumsulphate (AMS), diammonium phosphate (DAP), and urea ammonium nitrate(UAN) can be used to control polysaccharide hydration.

In the agricultural industry, ammonium containing compounds such asammonium sulphate (AMS), diammonium phosphate (DAP), and urea ammoniumnitrate (UAN), among others, are conventionally used to controlpolysaccharide hydration as well as in water conditioning. Use of AMS,DAP and UAN, among others, have been widely adopted in agriculturalpractices, especially in “hard water” areas. In these areas, tank mixescontaining, as a large component thereof, “hard water” along withpesticides, including herbicides (e.g., glyphosate) and the like, aswell as other components.

To combat the rise of glyphosate-resistant weeds, the trend in theagricultural industry has shifted away from utilizing only glyphosate toother herbicides or a combination of glyphosate with other herbicides.Other herbicides, for example, dicamba and its salts, can be utilized.However, dicamba and its salts are generally incompatible with ammoniumcontaining compounds used for water conditioning. As such, it isdesirable to replace these ammonium containing compounds withalternative compounds that are compatible with dicamba and its salts. Inone embodiment, the compositions as described herein are free of addedammonium containing compounds or are prepared in the absence of ammoniumcontaining compounds. In another embodiment, the composition asdescribed herein are substantially free of ammonium containingcompounds, meaning no ammonium containing compounds have been added tothe composition.

There is also a continuing interest in providing polymers in aconvenient form that exhibits good handling properties and good storagestability.

In a first aspect, described herein are concentrated adjuvantcompositions, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of thecomposition: —greater than 1 parts by weight (otherwise referred toherein as “pbw”) of an incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymersuspended in a liquid medium; —a hydration inhibitor component; and —asuspending agent in an amount effective to impart shear thinningproperties to the composition. The water-soluble polymer is, in someembodiments, a water-soluble polysaccharide polymer. In one embodiment,the hydration inhibitor component comprises choline chloride. In anotherembodiment, the hydration inhibitor component comprises potassiumphosphate (dibasic). It is understood that potassium phosphate (dibasic)is also referred to as dipotassium phosphate (K₂HPO₄). In yet anotherembodiment, the hydration inhibitor component comprises a combination ofcholine chloride and potassium phosphate (dibasic).

In a another aspect, described herein are concentrated adjuvantcompositions, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of thecomposition: —greater than 1 parts by weight of an incompletely hydratedwater-soluble polymer suspended in a liquid medium; —a hydrationinhibitor component; and —a suspending agent in an amount effective toimpart shear thinning properties to the composition, wherein theconcentrated adjuvant composition is substantially free of ammoniumcontaining compounds. In another embodiment, the concentrated adjuvantcomposition is free of added ammonium containing compounds.

In one embodiment, the concentrated adjuvant composition can compriseone or more surfactants, glycerine, a water conditioning agent or amixture thereof. In one embodiment, the suspending agent is selectedfrom fumed silica, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles,rheology modifier polymers, or mixtures thereof.

The hydration inhibitor component is typically present in an amounteffective to inhibit hydration of the water-soluble polysaccharide inthe desired amount in the aqueous medium.

In another embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component can furthercomprise at least one of: one or more surfactant compounds, one or morewater-soluble non-surfactant salts, or one or more water dispersibleorganic solvents.

In another embodiment, the concentrated adjuvant composition can furthercomprise a pesticide active ingredient, wherein the water-solublepolymer enhances delivery of the pesticide active ingredient from theliquid medium to a target substrate.

The liquid medium can be an aqueous liquid medium, in one embodiment. Inanother embodiment, the liquid medium is water. In another embodiment,the liquid medium is water and a water miscible organic liquid.

In yet another embodiment, the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid mediumthat comprises water and a water immiscible organic liquid. Theresulting composition can be in the form of an emulsion, amicroemulsion, or a suspoemulsion.

In one embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is selected frompolyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guarpolymers, and mixtures thereof, and —the suspending agent is selectedfrom fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles,rheology modifier polymers, water-soluble polysaccharide polymers otherthan the non-derivatized or derivatized guar polymer, and mixturesthereof.

In one embodiment, the concentrated adjuvant composition exhibits aviscosity of less than 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than or equalto 10 s⁻¹.

In another aspect, described herein are concentrated adjuvantcompositions, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of thecomposition, —from about 2 to about 20 parts by weight of a guar polymersuspended in aqueous medium, said guar polymer having a weight averagemolecular weight of from about 100,000 to about 5,000,000 grams permole;

-   -   a hydration inhibitor component; and    -   a suspending agent in an amount effective to impart shear        thinning properties to the composition;

wherein said composition exhibits:

-   -   (a) a viscosity of greater than or equal to 5 Pa·s at a shear        rate of less than 0.01 s⁻¹, and    -   (b) a viscosity of less than 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater        than 10 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component comprises cholinechloride. In another embodiment, the hydration inhibitor componentcomprises potassium phosphate (dibasic). In yet another embodiment, thehydration inhibitor component comprises a combination of cholinechloride and potassium phosphate (dibasic). In another embodiment, thehydration inhibitor component comprises choline chloride, cholinebicarbonate, choline dihydrogen citrate, choline bitarate, potassiumhydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium phosphate (dibasic),or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the hydrationinhibitor component comprises a choline salt, choline chloride, cholinebicarbonate, choline dihydrogen citrate, choline bitarate, potassiumhydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium phosphate (dibasic),or any combination thereof.

In another embodiment, the guar polymer comprises from about 2.5 partsto about 12 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of thecomposition. In yet another embodiment, the guar polymer comprises fromabout 2.5 parts to about 9 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weightof the composition. In another embodiment, the guar polymer comprisesfrom about 1 part to about 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts byweight of the composition. In another embodiment, the guar polymercomprises from about 3 parts to about 6 parts by weight based on 100parts by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the guarpolymer comprises from about 2 parts to about 12 parts by weight basedon 100 parts by weight of the composition.

In another aspect, disclosed herein are methods for making aconcentrated adjuvant composition that comprises a mixture of an aqueousliquid medium, an incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer dispersedin the aqueous liquid medium, and a hydration inhibitor component forinhibiting hydration of the water-soluble polymer, the steps comprising:

-   -   contacting the hydration inhibitor component with the aqueous        liquid medium, and    -   contacting the water-soluble polymer with the mixture of aqueous        liquid and hydration inhibitor component to disperse the        water-soluble polymer,

wherein the hydration inhibitor component comprises, in some embodiment,choline chloride, potassium phosphate (dibasic) or a combination thereofor, in other embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component comprisescholine chloride, choline bicarbonate, choline dihydrogen citrate,choline bitarate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate,potassium phosphate (dibasic), or any combination thereof.

In a further aspect, described herein are methods for making anagricultural pesticide composition, comprising mixing the composition asdescribed herein with an agricultural pesticide compound, optionallyother agricultural adjuvants, and water to form an pesticide compositionfor spray application to target pests. In one embodiment, thecomposition is free or substantially free of ammonium-containingcompounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, “liquid medium” means a medium that is in the liquidphase at a temperature of 25° C. and a pressure of one atmosphere. Theliquid medium may be a non-aqueous liquid medium or an aqueous liquidmedium.

In one embodiment, the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium. Asused herein, the terminology “aqueous medium” means a single phaseliquid medium that contains more than a trace amount of water,typically, based on 100 pbw of the aqueous medium, more than 0.1 pbwwater. Suitable aqueous media more typically comprise, based on 100 pbwof the aqueous medium, greater than about 5 pbw water, even moretypically greater than 10 pbw water. In one embodiment, the aqueousemulsion comprises, based on 100 pbw of the aqueous medium, greater than40 pbw water, more typically, greater than 50 pbw water. The aqueousmedium may, optionally, further comprise water-soluble or water misciblecomponents dissolved in the aqueous medium. The terminology “watermiscible” as used herein means miscible in all proportions with water.Suitable water miscible organic liquids include, for example,(C₁-C₆)alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, and(C₁-C₆)polyols, such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, anddiethylene glycol, The composition of the present invention may,optionally, further comprise one or more water insoluble or waterimmiscible components, such as a water immiscible organic liquid,wherein the combined aqueous medium and water insoluble or waterimmiscible components form a micro emulsion, or a multi-phase systemsuch as, for example, an emulsion, a suspension or a suspo-emulsion, inwhich the aqueous medium is in the form of a discontinuous phasedispersed in a continuous phase of the water insoluble or waterimmiscible component, or, more typically, the water insoluble or waterimmiscible component is in the form of a discontinuous phase dispersedin a continuous phase of the aqueous medium.

As used herein, the term “hydration” in reference to the water-solublepolymer component of the present invention means association ofsubstituent groups, typically hydrophilic substitutent groups, such ashydroxyl groups, of the water-soluble polymer with water molecules, suchas water molecules of the aqueous medium through, for example, hydrogenbonding. The degree to which the water-soluble polymer is hydrated canrange from non-hydrated to completely hydrated, with degrees of partialhydration extending between the two extremes. As discussed more fullybelow, the water-soluble polymer is capable of contributing to theviscosity of the composition of the present invention with the magnitudeof the contribution being dependent on the degree of hydration of thewater-soluble polymer. The degree of hydration of the water-solublepolymer can thus be characterized based on the magnitude of thecontribution that the water-soluble polymer makes to the viscosity ofthe composition.

As referred to herein a “non-hydrated” water-soluble polymer makes nosignificant contribution to the viscosity of the composition. Ingeneral, the non-hydrated water-soluble polymer would be in the form ofa discontinuous phase, for example, discrete particles, that isdispersed in a continuous phase of the liquid medium, ideally with nointeraction between the hydrophilic substituents of the polymer and anywater molecules present in the liquid medium. In the case of an aqueousmedium, there will generally be at least some interaction between thehydrophilic groups of polymer and water molecules of the aqueous mediumat interfaces between the phases, for example, at the outer surfaces ofthe particles. It is believed that in the case of a non-hydratedwater-soluble polymer, interaction among the hydrophilic substituentgroups of the non-hydrated water-soluble polymer dominates overinteraction between the hydrophilic substituent groups of the polymerand any water molecules present in the aqueous medium, the polymerchains of the non-hydrated water-soluble polymer are in a compact,folded conformation, and, in the case where the liquid medium is anaqueous medium, the non-hydrated water-soluble polymer is not dissolvedin the aqueous medium and remains in the form of a discontinuous phasedispersed in the continuous phase of the aqueous medium.

As referred to herein, a “completely hydrated” water-soluble polymermakes the maximum contribution to the viscosity of the composition thatthe water-soluble polymer is capable of making. It is believed that in acompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer, association between thehydrophilic substituent groups of the water-soluble polymer and watermolecules dominates over interaction among the hydrophilic substituentgroups, that the polymer chains of a completely hydrated water-solublepolymer are thus in an unfolded, random coil conformation, and in thecase where the liquid medium is an aqueous medium, the aqueous mediumand completely hydrated water-soluble polymer form a single phase, thatis, the completely hydrated water-soluble polymer is dissolved in theaqueous medium.

As referred to herein, a “partially hydrated” water-soluble polymer is awater-soluble polymer wherein some of the hydrophilic substituent groupsof the polymer are associated with water molecules. At a relatively lowlevel of hydration, the partially hydrated water-soluble polymer makes arelatively small contribution to the viscosity of the composition, whileat a relatively high level of hydration, the viscosity contribution of agiven amount of a partially hydrated water-soluble polymer in a givenmedium approaches, but is less than, the maximum contribution that theamount of water-soluble polymer is capable of making in that medium whencompletely hydrated. It is believed that with increasing hydration,particles of the water-soluble polymer swell, an increasing number ofhydrophilic substituent groups of the water-soluble polymer, includinghydrophilic substituent groups within the mass of swollen water-solublepolymer, become associated with water molecules, and, as completehydration is approached, the water-soluble polymer chains progressivelyunfold and approach an unfolded, randomly coiled configuration.

“Non-hydrated” and “partially hydrated” are collectively referred toherein as “incompletely hydrated”.

The degree of hydration of the water-soluble polymer can becharacterized by viscosity measurements. For example, the viscosity of agiven amount of a water-soluble polymer, in a given amount of an aqueousmedium, in the presence of a given amount of a proposed hydrationinhibitor component, and under given shear conditions, as described inmore detail below (the “test composition”), can be compared to theviscosity of the same amount of the water-soluble polymer in the sameamount of the aqueous medium in the absence of the proposed hydrationinhibitor component (the “baseline composition”). If the viscosity ofthe test composition is equal to that of the baseline composition, thenthe water-soluble polymer of the test composition is deemed to becompletely hydrated (and the proposed hydration inhibitor component isineffective in the amount tested to inhibit hydration of the polymer).If the viscosity of the test composition is less than that of thebaseline composition, then the water-soluble polymer of the testcomposition is deemed to be incompletely hydrated (and the proposedhydration inhibitor component is effective in the amount tested toinhibit hydration of the polymer).

In one embodiment, the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium and atleast a portion of the water-soluble polymer is in the form of particlesof the water-soluble polymer. In one embodiment, the liquid medium is anaqueous liquid medium, at least a portion of the water-soluble polymeris in the form of particles of the water-soluble polymer, and at least aportion of such particles are dispersed, more typically suspended, inthe aqueous liquid medium. The presence of such particles in thecomposition of the present invention may be detected by, for example,optical microscopy.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits aviscosity of less than 10 Pa·s, more typically from about 0.1 to lessthan 10 Pa·s, and even more typically from about 0.1 to less than 5Pa·s, at a shear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits anon-Newtonian “shear thinning” viscosity, that is, a viscosity that,within a given range of shear stress, decreases with increasing shearstress. Two general generally recognized categories of flow behavior,that is, plastic flow behavior and pseudoplastic flow behavior, eachinclude shear thinning flow behavior.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibitsplastic flow behavior. As used herein, the term “plastic” in referenceto flow behavior of a composition means the composition that exhibits acharacteristic “yield strength”, that is, a minimum shear stressrequired to initiate flow of the composition, and exhibits shearthinning behavior over some range of shear stress above the yieldstrength. A plastic composition exhibits no flow when subjected to shearstress below its yield strength, and flows when subjected to shearstress above its yield strength, wherein, over an intermediate range ofshear stress above its yield strength, the composition typicallyexhibits a non-Newtonian viscosity that decreases with increasing shearstress, that is, shear thinning behavior, and, at shear stresses abovethe intermediate range of shear stress, the composition may exhibit aviscosity that does not vary with shear stress, that is, Newtonian flowbehavior.

In one embodiment the composition of the present invention exhibitspseudoplastic flow behavior. As used herein, the term “pseudoplastic” inreference to the flow behavior of a composition means that thecomposition exhibits a viscosity that decreases with increasing shearstress, that is, shear thinning behavior.

In each case, a composition having plastic or pseudoplastic rheologicalproperties resists flow at low shear stress, but that when subjected toan elevated shear stress, such as being shaken in a bottle or squeezedthrough an orifice, the composition flows and can be easily pumped,poured, or otherwise dispensed from a container. In general,sedimentation or storage condition is a low shear process, having ashear rate in the range of from about 10⁻⁶ reciprocal seconds (1/s or,equivalently, s⁻¹) to about 0.01 s⁻¹ and pumping or pouring is arelatively high shear process with a shear rate in the range of greaterthan or equal to about 1 s⁻¹, more typically from 100 s⁻¹ to 10,000 s⁻¹,and even more typically, from 100 s⁻¹ to 1,000 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprisesfrom about 1 pbw, or from about 1.5 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, or fromgreater than 2.5 pbw, to about 30 pbw, or to about 25 pbw, or to about20 pbw, or to about 15 pbw, or to about 12 pbw, of the water-solublepolymer and exhibits a viscosity of less than or equal to about 10 Pa·s,more typically from about 0.1 to less than or equal to 10 Pa·s, and evenmore typically from about 0.1 to less than or equal to 5 Pa·s, at ashear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention resistssedimentation or separation under low shear stress storage conditionsyet is pumpable under elevated shear stress condition. In one suchembodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits aviscosity of from about 1 to about 1000 Pa·s, more typically from 5 toabout 800 Pa·s, even more typically from about 10 to about 500 Pa·s, ata shear rate of less than or equal to 0.01 s⁻¹ and exhibits a viscositythat is less than the viscosity exhibited at a shear rate of less thanor equal to 0.01 s⁻¹, typically a viscosity of less than 10 Pa·s, moretypically from about 0.1 to less than 10 Pa·s, and even more typicallyfrom about 0.1 to less than 5 Pa·s, at a shear rate of greater than orequal to 10 s⁻¹, more typically, greater than or equal to 100 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits aviscosity greater than or equal to 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of less thanor equal to 0.01 s⁻¹ and exhibits a viscosity of less than 10 Pa·s at ashear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s⁻¹, more typically, greaterthan or equal to 100 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits aviscosity greater than or equal to 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of less thanor equal to 0.01 s⁻¹ and exhibits a viscosity of less than 5 Pa·s at ashear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s⁻¹, more typically, greaterthan or equal to 100 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibits aviscosity greater than or equal to 1 Pa·s at a shear rate of less thanor equal to 0.01 s⁻¹ and exhibits a viscosity of less than 1 Pa·s at ashear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s⁻¹, more typically, greaterthan or equal to 100 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition exhibits a yield strength of greaterthan 0 Pa, more typically greater than 0.01 Pa, even more typically fromabout 0.01 to about 10 Pa, still more typically from about 0.1 to about5 Pa.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention alsoexhibits thixotropic properties. As used herein, the term “thixotropic”in reference to the flow properties of a composition means that thecomposition exhibits non-Newtonian shear thinning viscosity that is timedependent, i.e., the decrease in the viscosity of the composition thatis brought about by increasing shear stress is reversible and thecomposition returns to its original state when the shear stress isdiscontinued.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention furthercomprises a suspending agent, typically dispersed in the liquid medium,in an amount effective to impart shear thinning viscosity, to impartyield strength, or to impart shear thinning viscosity and yield strengthto the composition, generally in an amount, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition of the present invention, of from greater than 0 to about 10pbw, more typically from about 0.2 to about 5 pbw, and even moretypically, from about 0.5 to about 5 pbw of the suspending agent.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent is selected from silica, moretypically fumed silica, inorganic colloidal or colloid-formingparticles, more typically clays, rheology modifier polymers, andmixtures thereof. In one embodiment, wherein the liquid medium is anaqueous medium, the suspending agent comprises a polysaccharide polymerthat differs from the water-soluble polymer and that is more readilyhydrolyzed than the water-soluble polymer. For example, xanthan gum maybe dissolved in an aqueous medium and used as a suspending agent tosuspend incompletely hydrolyzed guar particles in the aqueous medium.

In one embodiment, wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous medium andthe water-soluble polymer is incompletely hydrolyzed and itself performsthe function of suspending agent by forming a water swollen, viscousmass, said viscous mass having a lower viscosity than would the sameamount of the same water-soluble polymer in a fully hydrated state, anda separate suspending agent is not required.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention furthercomprises a hydration inhibitor component, typically dissolved in theliquid medium, in an amount effective to inhibit hydration of thewater-soluble polysaccharide in the liquid medium so that thepolysaccharide polymer component of the composition of the presentinvention is incompletely hydrated, generally in an amount, based on 100pbw of the aqueous medium, of from greater than 0 to about 70 pbw, moretypically from about 15 to about 60 pbw, and even more typically, fromabout 20 to about 50 pbw of the hydration inhibitor component. Use of ahydration inhibitor component is typically of most benefit in thoseembodiments of the composition of the present invention wherein theliquid medium is an aqueous medium.

In another embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component is present inan amount having a lower limit of, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution,of 10 pbw, or in another embodiment of 15 pbw, or in another embodiment,20 pbw, or in another embodiment, 25 pbw.

In a further embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component is present inan amount having an upper limit of, based on 100 pbw of aqueoussolution, of 30 pbw, or in another embodiment of 40 pbw, or in anotherembodiment, 50 pbw, or in another embodiment, 60 pbw, or in anotherembodiment, 70 pbw.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component is selected fromcomprising choline chloride, potassium phosphate (dibasic) or acombination thereof.

The hydration inhibitor component can also comprise in otherembodiments, surfactants, water-soluble non-surfactant salts, waterdispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof. The terminology“non-surfactant salts” as used herein means salts that are not anionic,cationic, zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants and includes activeingredients, such as a pesticidal active ingredient or a pharmaceuticalactive ingredient, that are salts and whose primary activity is otherthan modification of interfacial surface tension. The terminology “waterdispersible organic solvents” includes water miscible organic liquidsand water immiscible organic liquids that may be dispersed in water,such as for example, in the form of an emulsion of the water immiscibleorganic liquid in water.

It will be appreciated that the suspending agent and/or the hydrationinhibitor component of the composition of the present invention may eachperform more than one function. For example, a surfactant compound thatfunctions as a hydration inhibitor component in the composition of thepresent invention may also perform a desired function, for example,detergency, in an end use application, such as a cleaning composition,or a salt that functions as a hydration inhibitor component in thecomposition of the present invention may also perform a desiredfunction, for example, biological activity, in an end use application,such as a pharmaceutical or pesticide composition.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, of from greater than 0 pbw, moretypically from about 1 pbw, even more typically from about 2 pbw, andstill more typically from greater than 2.5 pbw, to about 30 pbw, moretypically to about 25, even more typically to about 20 pbw, and stillmore typically about 12 pbw, of the water-soluble polymer.

In another embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in an amounthaving a lower limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution orcomposition, of 1 pbw, or in another embodiment of 1.2 pbw, or inanother embodiment, 1.4 pbw, or in another embodiment, 1.6 pbw, or inanother embodiment, 1.8 pbw, or in yet another further embodiment, 2pbw, or in another embodiment, 2.4 pbw, or in a further embodiment, 3pbw, or in another embodiment, 3.5 pbw, or in another embodiment, 3.8pbw, or in another embodiment, 4 pbw, or in another embodiment, 4.5 pbw,or one embodiment, 5 pbw, or in another embodiment, 7 pbw, or in afurther embodiment, 8 pbw, or in another embodiment, 10 pbw, or in yetanother embodiment, 12 pbw, or in another embodiment, 16 pbw, or inanother embodiment, 20 pbw. In one particular embodiment, thewater-soluble polymer is present in an amount having a lower limit,based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution or composition, of 1.8 pbw. In oneparticular embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in an amounthaving a lower limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution orcomposition, of 3.8 pbw. In one particular embodiment, the water-solublepolymer is present in an amount having a lower limit, based on 100 pbwof aqueous solution or composition, of 4 pbw. In one particularembodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in an amount having alower limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution or composition, of 2pbw.

In yet another embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in anamount having am upper limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution orcomposition, of 20 pbw, or in another embodiment of 18 pbw, or inanother embodiment, 17 pbw, or in another embodiment, 16 pbw, or inanother embodiment, 14 pbw, or in yet another further embodiment, 13pbw, or in another embodiment, 12 pbw, or in a further embodiment, 10pbw, or in another embodiment, 9 pbw, or in another embodiment, 8 pbw,or in another embodiment, 7 pbw, or in another embodiment, 6 pbw, or oneembodiment, 5.5 pbw, or in another embodiment, 5 pbw, or in a furtherembodiment, 4.5 pbw, or in another embodiment, 3 pbw, or in yet anotherembodiment, 2.5 pbw, or in another embodiment, 2.2 pbw. In oneparticular embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in an amounthaving an upper limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution orcomposition, of 12 pbw. In one particular embodiment, the water-solublepolymer is present in an amount having an upper limit, based on 100 pbwof aqueous solution or composition, of 8 pbw. In one particularembodiment, the water-soluble polymer is present in an amount having anupper limit, based on 100 pbw of aqueous solution or composition, of 20pbw.

In one embodiment, the polymer is a polysaccharide polymer.Polysaccharide polymer typically have a large number of hydrophilic,typically, hydroxyl, substituent groups, per molecule, more typicallyone or more hydroxyl group per monomeric unit of the polysaccharidepolymer.

In one embodiment, wherein the polysaccharide polymer is a polymerhaving a weight average molecular weight of up to about 10,000,000 gramsper mole (g/mol) more typically of up to about 5,000,000 grams per mole,more typically from about 100,000 to about 4,000,000 g/mol, even moretypically from about 500,000 to about 3,000,000 g/mol, the compositionof the present invention comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition,up to about 15 pbw, more typically from about 1 to about 12 pbw, andeven more typically, from about 2 to about 10 pbw, and still moretypically from greater than 2.5 to about 8 pbw, of the polysaccharidepolymer. The weight average molecular weight of a polysaccharide polymermay be determined by known methods, such as by gel permeationchromatography with light scattering or refractive index detection. Asgenerally used herein, i.e., in the absence of an explicit limitationsuch as “derivatized” or “non-derivatized”, the term “guar polymer”refers collectively to non-derivatized polysaccharide polymers andderivatized polysaccharide polymers.

In one embodiment, wherein the polysaccharide polymer is a depolymerizedguar having a molecular weight of less than about 100,000 g/mol, thecomposition of the present invention comprises, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition, up to about 50 pbw or to about 30 pbw, more typically fromabout 0.1 pbw or from about 1 pbw to about 25 pbw, even more typically,from about 1.5 to about 20 pbw, still more typically from about 2 pbw toabout 15 pbw, and still more typically greater than 2.5 pbw to about 12pbw, of the polysaccharide polymer.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprisesfrom greater than 2.5 to about 8 pbw of a guar polymer suspended in aliquid medium, more typically an aqueous medium, wherein the polymer hasa weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 g/mol, moretypically from about 500,000 g/mol, to about 5,000,000 g/mol, moretypically to about 4,000,000 g/mol, and even more typically to about3,000,000 g/mol, and the composition exhibits a viscosity of greaterthan or equal to 5 Pa·s, more typically greater than or equal to 10Pa·s, at a shear rate of less than 0.01 s⁻¹, more typically less than0.001 s⁻¹, and a viscosity that is less than the viscosity exhibited ata shear rate of less than or equal to 0.01 s⁻¹, typically a viscosity ofless than 10 Pa·s, more typically less than 5 Pa·s, at a shear rate ofgreater than 10 s⁻¹, more typically greater than 100 s⁻¹.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises:

-   (a) a liquid medium,-   (b) an incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer, more typically    wherein at least a portion of a water-soluble polymer is in the form    of particles of the water-soluble polymer, at least a portion of    which are dispersed, more typically suspended in the liquid medium,    and-   (c) a suspending agent in an amount effective to impart shear    thinning properties to the composition; and-   (d) a hydration inhibitor component.

In one embodiment, the liquid medium is an aqueous medium andcomposition of the present invention comprises, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition:

-   (a) greater than 0 pbw, more typically greater than or equal to    about 10 pbw, even more typically greater than or equal to about 30    pbw, and still more typically greater than or equal to about 40 pbw    water,-   (b) from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1 pbw or    from about 1 pbw, more typically from about 1.5 pbw, even more    typically from about 2 pbw, and still more typically from greater    than 2.5 pbw, or from about 3 pbw or from about 4 pbw, to about 50    pbw or to about 30 pbw, more typically to about 25 pbw, more    typically to about 20 pbw, even more typically to about 15 pbw, and    still more typically, to about 12 pbw, of the incompletely hydrated    water-soluble polysaccharide polymer, more typically wherein at    least a portion of the water-soluble polymer is in the form of    particles, and at least a portion of such particles are dispersed,    more typically, suspended, in the liquid medium, and-   (c) from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1 pbw, even    more typically from about 0.2 pbw, and still more typically from    about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw and, more typically, to about 5 pbw,    of the suspending agent.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises:

-   (a) an aqueous medium,-   (b) an incompletely hydrated water-soluble polysaccharide polymer,    more typically wherein at least a portion of a water-soluble polymer    is in the form of particles of the water-soluble polymer, at least a    portion of which are dispersed, more typically suspended in the    aqueous medium,-   (c) a suspending agent in an amount effective to impart shear    thinning properties to the composition, and-   (d) a hydration inhibitor component in an amount effective to    inhibit hydration of the water-soluble polysaccharide in the aqueous    medium.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition:

-   (a) greater than 0 pbw, more typically greater than or equal to    about 10 pbw, even more typically greater than or equal to about 30    pbw, and still more typically greater than or equal to about 40 pbw,    water,-   (b) from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1 pbw or    from about 1 pbw, more typically from about 1.5 pbw, even more    typically from about 2 pbw, and still more typically from greater    than 2.5 pbw, or from about 3 pbw or from about 4 pbw, to about 50    pbw or to about 30 pbw, more typically to about 25 pbw, more    typically to about 20 pbw, even more typically, to about 15 pbw, and    still more typically, to about 12 pbw, of the incompletely hydrated    polysaccharide polymer, more typically wherein at least a portion of    the water-soluble polymer is in the form of particles, and at least    a portion of such particles are dispersed, more typically,    suspended, in the liquid medium,-   (c) from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1 pbw, even    more typically from about 0.2 pbw, and still more typically from    about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw and, and more typically to about 5    pbw, of the suspending agent, and-   (d) from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 10 pbw, even    more typically from about 15 pbw, and still more typically from    about 20 pbw, to about 70 pbw, more typically to about 60 pbw, and    even more typically to about 50 pbw, of the hydration inhibitor    component.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition:

-   (a) greater than 0 pbw, more typically greater than or equal to    about 10 pbw, even more typically greater than or equal to about 30    pbw, and still more typically greater than or equal to about 40 pbw,    water,-   (b) from greater than 0 or from about 0.1 pbw to about 50 pbw or to    about 30 pbw, more typically from about 1 to about 25 pbw, more    typically, from about 1.5 to about 20 pbw, even more typically, from    about 2 to about 15 pbw, and still more typically from greater than    2.5 to about 12 pbw, of the incompletely hydrated polysaccharide    polymer, more typically wherein at least a portion of the    water-soluble polymer is in the form of particles, and at least a    portion of such particles are dispersed, more typically, suspended,    in the liquid medium,-   (c) from greater than 0 to about 10 pbw, more typically from about    0.1 to about 10 pbw, even more typically from about 0.2 to about 5    pbw, and still more typically, from about 0.5 to about 5 pbw, of the    suspending agent, and-   (d) from greater than 0 to about 70 pbw, more typically from about    10 to about 70 pbw, even more typically from about 15 to about 60    pbw, and still more typically from about 20 to about 50 pbw, of the    hydration inhibitor component.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent is a silica and the hydrationinhibitor component is choline chloride, potassium phosphate (dibasic),or a combination thereof. The hydration inhibitor component can furthercomprise a non-surfactant salt, a surfactant, a water dispersibleorganic solvent, a mixture of a non-surfactant salt and a surfactant, amixture of a non-surfactant salt and a water dispersible organicsolvent, or a mixture of a non-surfactant salt, a surfactant, and awater dispersible organic solvent.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent is a silica and the hydrationinhibitor component is choline chloride. In one embodiment, thesuspending agent is a clay and the hydration inhibitor component ischoline chloride.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent is a clay and the hydrationinhibitor component is potassium phosphate (dibasic). In one embodiment,the suspending agent is a silica and the hydration inhibitor componentis potassium phosphate (dibasic). In another embodiment, the hydrationinhibitor component further comprises a non-surfactant salt, asurfactant, a water dispersible organic solvent, a mixture of anon-surfactant salt and a surfactant, a mixture of a non-surfactant saltand a water dispersible organic solvent, or a mixture of anon-surfactant salt, a surfactant, and a water dispersible organicsolvent.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent is a mixture of a silica and aclay

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition:

from greater than 0 pbw, or greater than or equal to about 10 pbw, of orgreater than or equal about 30 pbw of an aqueous medium, more typicallywater or a mixture of water and a water miscible organic liquid,

from greater than 2.5 pbw, or from about 3 pbw, or from about 4 pbw toabout 50 pbw, or to about 30 pbw, or to about 25 pbw, or to about 20pbw, or to about 15 pbw, or to about 12 pbw, of a water-soluble polymer,more typically a water-soluble polymer selected from water-solublepolysaccharide polymers and water-soluble non-polysaccharide polymers,and even more typically a water-soluble polymer selected frompolyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guars, derivatized guars, andmixtures thereof, wherein such water-soluble polymer is incompletelyhydrated, more typically wherein at least a portion of the water-solublepolymer is in the form of particles and at least a portion of suchparticles are dispersed, more typically, suspended, in the liquidmedium,

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 0.1 pbw, or fromabout 0.2 pbw, or from about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw, or to about 5pbw, of a suspending agent, more typically of a suspending agentselected from silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles,rheology modifier polymers, water-soluble polymers other than thewater-soluble polymer, and mixtures thereof dissolved or dispersed inthe liquid medium, and

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, or fromabout 5 pbw, to about 30 pbw or to about 15 pbw, or to about 10 pbw, ofa hydration inhibitor component, more typically a hydration inhibitorcomponent selected from surfactants, water-soluble non-surfactant salts,water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof dissolved ordispersed in the liquid medium.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:

from greater than 0 pbw, or greater than or equal to about 10 pbw, orgreater than or equal to about 30 pbw an aqueous liquid mediumcomprising a mixture of water and a water immiscible organic liquid,

an emulsifier, more typically one or more emulsifiers comprising anonionic surfactant, even more typically comprising a nonionicsurfactant selected from sorbitan fatty acid esters, aryl alkoxylates,alkoxylated fatty alcohols, alkoxylated fatty acids, alkoxylatedtriglycerides, alkoxy copolymers, alkylpolyglucosides, alkoxylated fattyamines, and ether amines, and, and mixtures thereof, in an amounteffective to emulsify the water and water immiscible organic liquid,more typically from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, to about 8pbw or to about 6 pbw, of the surfactant,

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 0.1 pbw, or fromabout 1 pbw, or from about 1.5 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, or from greaterthan 2.5 pbw, or from about 4 pbw, to about 50 pbw to about 30 pbw, orto about 25 pbw, or to about 20 pbw, or to about 15 pbw, or to about 12pbw, of a first water-soluble polymer, more typically a water-solublepolymer selected from water-soluble polysaccharide polymers andwater-soluble non-polysaccharide polymers, and even more typically awater-soluble polymer selected from polyacrylamide polymers,non-derivatized guars, derivatized guars, and mixtures thereof, whereinsuch water-soluble polymer is incompletely hydrated, more typicallywherein at least a portion of the water-soluble polymer is in the formof particles of the water-soluble polymer and wherein at least a portionof such particles is dispersed, more typically, suspended, in the liquidmedium,

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 0.1 pbw, or fromabout 0.2 pbw, or from about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw, or to about 5pbw, of a suspending agent selected from silicas, inorganic colloidal orcolloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, secondwater-soluble polymers other than the selected first water-solublepolymer, and mixtures thereof dissolved or dispersed in the liquidmedium, and

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, or fromabout 5 pbw, to about 30 pbw or to about 15 pbw, or to about 10 pbw, ofa hydration inhibitor component hydration inhibitor component selectedfrom surfactants, water-soluble non-surfactant salts, water dispersibleorganic solvents, and mixtures thereof dissolved or dispersed in theliquid medium,

wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion, a microemulsion,or a suspoemulsion.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:

from greater than 0 pbw, or greater than or equal to about 10 pbw, orgreater than or equal to about 30 pbw of a non-aqueous liquid medium,more typically of a water immiscible organic liquid,

from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 0.1 pbw, or from about 1 pbw, orfrom about 1.5 pbw, or from about 2 pbw, or from greater than 2.5 pbw,or from about 4 pbw, to about 50 pbw, or to about 30 pbw, or to about 25pbw, or to about 20 pbw, or to about 15 pbw, or to about 12 pbw, of awater-soluble polymer, more typically a water-soluble polymer selectedfrom water-soluble polysaccharide polymers and water-solublenon-polysaccharide polymers, and even more typically a water-solublepolymer selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guars,derivatized guars, and mixtures thereof, wherein at least a portion ofthe water-soluble polymer is in the form of particles and at least aportion of such particles are dispersed, more typically, suspended, inthe non-aqueous liquid medium, and

from 0 pbw, or from greater than 0 pbw, or from about 0.1 pbw, or fromabout 0.2 pbw, or from about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw or to about 5 pbw,of a suspending agent, more typically a suspending agent selected fromselected from silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles,and mixtures thereof, dispersed in the non-aqueous liquid medium.

Suitable water-soluble polysaccharide polymers are include, for example,galactomannans such as guars, including guar derivatives, xanthans,polyfructoses such as levan, starches, including starch derivatives,such as amylopectin, and cellulose, including cellulose derivatives,such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose,hydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate,and cellulose acetate propionate.

Galactomannans are polysaccharides consisting mainly of themonosaccharides mannose and galactose. The mannose-elements form a chainconsisting of many hundreds of (1,4)-β-D-mannopyranosyl-residues, with1,6 linked α-D-galactopyranosyl-residues at varying distances, dependenton the plant of origin. Naturally occurring galactomannans are availablefrom numerous sources, including guar gum, guar splits, locust bean gumand tara gum. Additionally, galactomannans may also be obtained byclassical synthetic routes or may be obtained by chemical modificationof naturally occurring galactomannans.

Guar gum refers to the mucilage found in the seed of the leguminousplant Cyamopsis tetragonolobus. The water-soluble fraction (85%) iscalled “guaran,” which consists of linear chains of (1,4)-.β-Dmannopyranosyl units-with α-D-galactopyranosyl units attached by (1,6)linkages. The ratio of D-galactose to D-mannose in guaran is about 1:2.Guar gum typically has a weight average molecular weight of between2,000,000 and 5,000,000 g/mol. Guars having a reduced molecular weight,such as for example, from about 50,000 to about 2,000,000 g/mol are alsoknown.

Guar seeds are composed of a pair of tough, non-brittle endospermsections, hereafter referred to as “guar splits,” between which issandwiched the brittle embryo (germ). After dehulling, the seeds aresplit, the germ (43-47% of the seed) is removed by screening, and thesplits are ground. The ground splits are reported to contain about78-82% galactomannan polysaccharide and minor amounts of someproteinaceous material, inorganic non-surfactant salts, water-insolublegum, and cell membranes, as well as some residual seedcoat and embryo.

Locust bean gum or carob bean gum is the refined endosperm of the seedof the carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua. The ratio of galactose to mannosefor this type of gum is about 1:4. Locust bean gum is commerciallyavailable.

Tara gum is derived from the refined seed gum of the tara tree. Theratio of galactose to mannose is about 1:3. Tara gum is commerciallyavailable.

Other galactomannans of interest are the modified galactomannans,including derivatized guar polymers, such as carboxymethyl guar,carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar,hydroxyalkyl guar, including hydroxyethyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar,hydroxybutyl guar and higher hydroxylalkyl guars, carboxylalkyl guars,including carboxymethyl guar, carboxylpropyl guar, carboxybutyl guar,and higher carboxyalkyl guars, the hydroxyethylated, hydroxypropylatedand carboxymethylated derivative of guaran, the hydroxethylated andcarboxymethylated derivatives of carubin, and the hydroxypropylated andcarboxymethylated derivatives of cassia-gum. In one embodiment, thederivatized guar is hydroxypropyl guar. In one embodiment, thederivatized guar is cationic hydroxypropyl guar or cationic guar.

Xanthans of interest are xanthan gum and xanthan gel. Xanthan gum is apolysaccharide gum produced by Xathomonas campestris and containsD-glucose, D-mannose, D-glucuronic acid as the main hexose units, alsocontains pyruvate acid, and is partially acetylated.

Levan is a polyfructose comprising 5-membered rings linked through β-2,6bonds, with branching through β-2,1 bonds. Levan exhibits a glasstransition temperature of 138° C. and is available in particulate form.At a molecular weight of 1-2 million, the diameter of the densely-packedspherulitic particles is about 85 nm.

Modified celluloses are celluloses containing at least one functionalgroup, such as a hydroxy group, hydroxycarboxyl group, or hydroxyalkylgroup, such as for example, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcelluloses, hydroxypropyl celluloses or hydroxybutyl celluloses.

Processes for making derivatives of guar gum splits are generally known.Typically, guar splits are reacted with one or more derivatizing agentsunder appropriate reaction conditions to produce a guar polysaccharidehaving the desired substituent groups. Suitable derivatizing reagentsare commercially available and typically contain a reactive functionalgroup, such as an epoxy group, a chlorohydrin group, or an ethylenicallyunsaturated group, and at least one other substituent group, such as acationic, nonionic or anionic substituent group, or a precursor of sucha substituent group per molecule, wherein substituent group may belinked to the reactive functional group of the derivatizing agent bybivalent linking group, such as an alkylene or oxyalkylene group.Suitable cationic substituent groups include primary, secondary, ortertiary amino groups or quaternary ammonium, sulfonium, or phosphiniumgroups. Suitable nonionic substituent groups include hydroxyalkylgroups, such as hydroxypropyl groups. Suitable anionic groups includecarboxyalkyl groups, such as carboxymethyl groups. The cationic,nonionic and/or anionic substituent groups may be introduced to the guarpolysaccharide chains via a series of reactions or by simultaneousreactions with the respective appropriate derivatizing agents.

The guar may be treated with a crosslinking agent, such for example,borax (sodium tetra borate) is commonly used as a processing aid in thereaction step of the water-splits process to partially crosslink thesurface of the guar splits and thereby reduces the amount of waterabsorbed by the guar splits during processing. Other crosslinkers, suchas, for example, glyoxal or titanate compounds, are known.

In one embodiment, the polysaccharide component of the composition ofthe present invention is a non-derivatized galactomannan polysaccharide,more typically a non-derivatized guar gum.

In one embodiment, the polysaccharide is a derivatized galactomannanpolysaccharide that is substituted at one or more sites of thepolysaccharide with a substituent group that is independently selectedfor each site from the group consisting of cationic substituent groups,nonionic substituent groups, and anionic substituent groups.

In one embodiment, the polysaccharide component of the composition ofthe present invention is derivatized galactomannan polysaccharide, moretypically a derivatized guar. Suitable derivatized guars include, forexample, hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium guar, hydroxypropyllauryldimethylammonium guar, hydroxypropyl stearyldimethylammonium guar,hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, guar with hydroxypropyl groupsand hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium groups, guar with carboxymethylhydroxypropyl groups and mixtures thereof.

The amount of derivatizing groups in a derivatized polysaccharidepolymer may be characterized by the degree of substitution of thederivatized polysaccharide polymer or the molar substitution of thederivatized polysaccharide polymer.

As used herein, the terminology “degree of substitution” in reference toa given type of derivatizing group and a given polysaccharide polymermeans the number of the average number of such derivatizing groupsattached to each monomeric unit of the polysaccharide polymer. In oneembodiment, the derivatized galactomannan polysaccharide exhibits atotal degree of substitution (“DS_(T)”) of from about 0.001 to about3.0, wherein:

DS_(T) is the sum of the DS for cationic substituent groups(“DS_(cationic)”), the DS for nonionic substituent groups(“DS_(nonionic)”) and the DS for anionic substituent groups(“DS_(anionic)”),

DS_(cationic) is from 0 to about 3, more typically from about 0.001 toabout 2.0, and even more typically from about 0.001 to about 1.0,

DS_(nonionic) is from 0 to 3.0, more typically from about 0.001 to about2.5, and even more typically from about 0.001 to about 1.0, and

DS_(anionic) is from 0 to 3.0, more typically from about 0.001 to about2.0.

As used herein, the term “molar substitution” or “ms” refers to thenumber of moles of derivatizing groups per moles of monosaccharide unitsof the guar. The molar substitution can be determined by the Zeisel-GCmethod. The molar substitution utilized by the present invention istypically in the range of from about 0.001 to about 3.

In one embodiment, the polysaccharide polymer is in the form ofparticles. In one embodiment, the particles of polysaccharide polymerhave an initial, that is, determined for dry particles prior tosuspension in the aqueous medium, average particle size of about 5 to200 μm, more typically about 20 to 200 μm as measured by lightscattering, and exhibit a particle size in the aqueous medium of greaterthan or equal to the initial particle size, that is greater than orequal to 5 μm, more typically greater or equal to than 20 μm, with anyincrease from the initial particle size being due to swelling broughtabout by partial hydration of the polysaccharide polymer in the aqueousmedium.

In one embodiment, the water-soluble polymer is a water-solublenon-polysaccharide polymer. Suitable water-soluble non-polysaccaharidepolymers include, for example, lecithin polymers, poly(alkyleneoxide)polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide) polymers, and water-solublepolymers derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Suitablewater-soluble polymers derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomersinclude water-soluble polymers derived from acrylamide, methacrylamide,2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate, and/or N-vinyl pyrrolidone, includinghomopolymers of such monomers, such as poly(acrylamide) polymers andpoly(vinyl pyrrolidone) polymers, as well as copolymers of such monomerswith one or more comonomers. Suitable water-soluble copolymers derivedfrom ethylenically unsaturated monomers include water-soluble cationicpolymers made by polymerization of at least one cationic monomer, suchas a diamino alkyl (meth)acrylate or diamino alkyl (meth)acrylamide, ormixture thereof and one or more nonionic monomers, such as acrylamide ormethacrylamide. In one embodiment, the non-polysaccharide polymerexhibits a weight average molecular weight of greater than about1,000,000 g/mol, more typically greater than about 2,000,000 g/mol toabout 20,000,000 g/mol, more typically to about 10,000,000 g/mol.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent component of the composition ofthe present invention comprises a fumed silica. Fumed silica istypically produced by the vapor phase hydrolysis of a silicon compound,e.g., silicon tetrachloride, in a hydrogen oxygen flame. The combustionprocess creates silicon dioxide molecules that condense to formparticles. The particles collide, attach, and sinter together. Theresult of these processes is typically a three dimensional branchedchain aggregate, typically having an average particles size of fromabout 0.2 to 0.3 micron. Once the aggregates cool below the fusion pointof silica (1710° C.), further collisions result in mechanicalentanglement of the chains, termed agglomeration.

In one embodiment, suitable fumed silica has a BET surface area of from50-400 square meters per gram (m²/g), more typically from, from about100 m²/g to about 400 m²/g.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent component of the composition ofthe present invention comprises a fumed silica in an amount that iseffective, either alone or in combination with one or more othersuspending agents, to impart shear thinning viscosity to thecomposition, typically in an amount, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition, of from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1pbw, and even more typically from about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw, moretypically to about 5 pbw, and even more typically to about 2.5 pbw, offumed silica.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, from greater than 0 to about 10pbw, more typically from about 0.1 to about 5 pbw, and even moretypically from about 0.5 to about 2.5 pbw, of fumed silica.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent component of the composition ofthe present invention comprises an inorganic, typically aluminosilicateor magnesium silicate, colloid-forming clay, typically, a smectite (alsoknown as montmorillonoid) clay, an attapulgite (also known aspalygorskite) clay, or a mixture thereof. These clay materials can bedescribed as expandable layered clays, wherein the term “expandable” asused herein in reference to such clay relates to the ability of thelayered clay structure to be swollen, or expanded, on contact withwater.

Smectites are three-layered clays. There are two distinct classes ofsmectite-type clays. In the first class of smectites, aluminum oxide ispresent in the silicate crystal lattice and the clays have a typicalformula of Al₂(Si₂O₅)₂(OH)₂. In the second class of smectites, magnesiumoxide is present in the silicate crystal lattice and the clays have atypical formula of Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₂. The range of the water of hydrationin the above formulas can vary with the processing to which the clay hasbeen subjected. This is immaterial to the use of the smectite clays inthe present compositions in that the expandable characteristics of thehydrated clays are dictated by the silicate lattice structure.Furthermore, atomic substitution by iron and magnesium can occur withinthe crystal lattice of the smectites, while metal cations such as Na⁺,Ca⁺², as well as H⁺, can be present in the water of hydration to provideelectrical neutrality. Although the presence of iron in such claymaterial is preferably avoided to minimize chemical interaction betweenclay and optional composition components, such cation substitutions ingeneral are immaterial to the use of the clays herein since thedesirable physical properties of the clay are not substantially alteredthereby.

The layered expandable aluminosilicate smectite clays useful herein arefurther characterized by a dioctahedral crystal lattice, whereas theexpandable magnesium silicate smectite clays have a trioctahedralcrystal lattice.

Suitable smectite clays, include, for example, montmorillonite(bentonite), volchonskoite, nontronite, beidellite, hectorite, saponite,sauconite and vermiculite, are commercially available.

Attapulgites are magnesium-rich clays having principles of superpositionof tetrahedral and octahedral unit cell elements different from thesmectites. An idealized composition of the attapulgite unit cell isgiven as: (H₂O)₄(OH)₂Mg₅Si₈O₂O₄H₂O. Attapulgite clays are commerciallyavailable.

As noted above, the clays employed in the compositions of the presentinvention contain cationic counter ions such as protons, sodium ions,potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions and the like. It iscustomary to distinguish between clays on the basis of one cation whichis predominately or exclusively absorbed. For example, a sodium clay isone in which the absorbed cation is predominately sodium. Such absorbedcations can become involved in exchange reactions with cations presentin aqueous solutions.

Commercially obtained clay materials can comprise mixtures of thevarious discrete mineral entities. Such mixtures of the minerals aresuitable for use in the present compositions. In addition, natural clayssometimes consist of particles in which unit layers of different typesof clay minerals are stacked together (interstratification). Such claysare called mixed layer clays, and these materials are also suitable foruse herein.

In one embodiment, suspending agent component of the composition of thepresent invention comprises an inorganic colloid forming clay in anamount that is effective, either alone or in combination with one ormore other suspending agents, to impart shear thinning viscosity to thecomposition, typically in an amount, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition, of from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1pbw, and even more typically from about 0.5 pbw, to about 10 pbw, moretypically to about 5 pbw, and even more typically to about 2.5 pbw, ofinorganic colloid forming clay.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, from greater than 0 to about 10pbw, more typically from about 0.1 to about 5 pbw, and even moretypically from about 0.5 to about 2.5 pbw, of inorganic colloid formingclay.

A fumed silica or clay suspending agent is typically introduced to theliquid medium and mixed to disperse the fumed silica or clay suspendingagent in the liquid medium.

In one embodiment, the suspension agent component of the composition ofthe present invention comprises a rheology modifer polymer. Rheologymodifier polymers are polymers used to thicken aqueous compositions.Suitable rheology modifier polymers are known and typically fall withinone of three general classes, that is, alkali swellable polymers,hydrogen bridging rheology modifiers, and hydrophobic associativethickeners.

Alkali swellable polymers are pH-responsive polymers that swell whenplaced in an alkali medium and include, for example, homopolymers andcopolymers comprising units derived from ethylenically unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleicacid.

Suitable hydrogen bridging rheology modifiers include, for example,hydrocolloids such as cellulose and hydrophilic cellulose derivatives,such as carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and naturalgums and gum derivatives, such as guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar, xanthangun, Rheozan, and carrageenan. In one embodiment, the hydrogen bridgingrheology modifier is a second water-soluble polymer that is differentfrom the incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer component of thecomposition of the present invention. For example, in an embodimentwherein the incompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer is a firstpolysaccharide polymer, the hydrogen bridging rheology modifier may be asecond polysaccharide polymer that is more readily hydrated than thefirst polysaccharide polymer.

Suitable hydrophobic associative rheology modifiers are known andinclude hydrophobically modified natural or synthetic polymers thatcontain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substituent groups, such ashydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives and polymers having asynthetic hydrophilic polymer backbone, such as a poly(oxyalkylene),such as a poly(oxyethylene) or poly(oxypropylene) backbone andhydrophobic pendant groups, such as (C₁₀-C₃₀) hydrocarbon groups.Nonionic associate thickeners are typically preferred, due to theirrelative insensitivity to high salt concentrations, and include, forexample, PEG-200 glyceryl tallowate, PEG-200 hydrogenated glycerylpalmate, PPG-14 palmeth-60 hexyl dicarbamate, PEG-160 sorbitantriisostearate.

In one embodiment, the suspending agent component of the composition ofthe present invention comprises a rheology modifier polymer in an amountthat is effective, either alone or in combination with one or more othersuspending agents, to impart shear thinning viscosity to thecomposition, typically in an amount, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition, of from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 0.1pbw, and even more typically from about 1 pbw, to about 10 pbw, moretypically to about 5 pbw, of rheology modifier polymer.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, from greater than 0 to about 10pbw, more typically from about 0.1 to about 10 pbw, and even moretypically from about 1 to about 5 pbw, of rheology modifier polymer.

An rheology modifier suspending agent is typically introduced to theliquid medium and subjected mixing to disperse the rheology modifierpolymer in the aqueous medium.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention furthercomprises a surfactant. As used herein the term “surfactant” means acompound that is capable of lowering the surface tension of water, moretypically, a compound selected from one of five classes of compounds,that is, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphotericsurfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and nonionic surfactants, as wellas mixtures thereof, that are known for their detergent properties. Inone embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the composition ofthe present invention further comprises a surfactant.

Suitable cationic surfactants are known in the art, and include, forexample, amine salts, such as, ethoxylated tallow amine, cocoalkylamine,and oleylamine, quaternary ammonium compounds such as cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, stearyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, lauryl/myristryl trimethyl ammoniummethosulfate, stearyl octyldimonium methosulfate, dihydrogenatedpalmoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate, isostearyl benzylimidoniumchloride, cocoyl benzyl hydroxyethyl imidazolinium chloride, cocoylhydroxyethylimidazolinium, and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises an anionic surfactant. Suitableanionic surfactants are known in the art, and include, for example,ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, triethylamine laurylsulfate, triethylamine laureth sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate,triethanolamine laureth sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate,monoethanolamine laureth sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate,diethanolamine laureth sulfate, lauric monoglyceride sodium sulfate,sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate,potassium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium lauroylsarcosinate, lauryl sarcosine, cocoyl sarcosine, ammonium cocoylsulfate, ammonium lauroyl sulfate, sodium cocoyl sulfate, sodium lauroylsulfate, potassium cocoyl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate,triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate,monoethanolamine cocoyl sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, sodiumtridecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, andmixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises an amphoteric surfactant. Suitableamphoteric surfactants are known in the art, and include thosesurfactants broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary andtertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight orbranched chain and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents containsfrom about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic watersolubilizing group such as carboxyl, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, orphosphonate. In one embodiment, the amphoteric surfactant comprises atleast one compound selected from cocoamphoacetate, cocoamphodiacetate,lauroamphoacetate, and lauroamphodiacetate.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a zwitterionic surfactant. Suitablezwitterionic surfactants are known in the art, and include, for example,those surfactants broadly described as derivatives of aliphaticquaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds, in which thealiphatic radicals can be straight or branched chain, and wherein one ofthe aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 18 carbonatoms and one contains an anionic group such as carboxyl, sulfonate,sulfate, phosphate or phosphonate. Specific examples of suitableZwitterionic surfactants include alkyl betaines, such as cocodimethylcarboxymethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, lauryldimethyl alpha-carboxy-ethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl carboxymethylbetaine, lauryl bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)carboxy methyl betaine, stearylbis-(2-hydroxy-propyl)carboxymethyl betaine, oleyl dimethylgamma-carboxypropyl betaine, and laurylbis-(2-hydroxypropyl)alpha-carboxyethyl betaine, alkyl amidopropylbetaines, and alkyl sultaines, such as cocodimethyl sulfopropyl betaine,stearyldimethyl sulfopropyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl sulfoethyl betaine,lauryl bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)sulfopropyl betaine, andalkylamidopropylhydroxy sultaines.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a nonionic surfactant. Suitablenonionic surfactants are known in the art, and include, for example,long chain alkyl glucosides having alkyl groups containing about 8carbon atoms to about 22 carbon atoms, coconut fatty acidmonoethanolamides such as cocamide MEA, coconut fatty aciddiethanolamides, alcohol alkoxylates, and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a mixture of two or more surfactantsselected from cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphotericsurfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, andmixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a surfactant in an amount that iseffective, either alone or in combination with one or more otherhydration inhibitor components, to prevent or to at least inhibithydration of the polysaccharide, typically in an amount, based on 100pbw of the composition, of from greater than 0 pbw, more typically fromabout 2 pbw, and even more typically from about 5 pbw, to about 60 pbw,more typically to about 50 pbw, and even more typically, to about 40pbw, of surfactant.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, from greater than 0 to about 60pbw, more typically from about 2 to about 50 pbw, and even moretypically, from about 5 to about 40 pbw, of surfactant.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component as described hereincomprises choline chloride, potassium phosphate (dibasic), or acombination thereof. In another embodiment, the hydration inhibitorcomponent comprises choline chloride, choline bicarbonate, cholinedihydrogen citrate, choline bitarate, potassium hydrogen phosphate,potassium carbonate, potassium phosphate (dibasic), or any combinationthereof. In another embodiment, the hydration inhibitor componentfurther comprises a water-soluble non-surfactant salt. Suitablewater-soluble non-surfactant salts include organic non-surfactant salts,inorganic non-surfactant salts, and mixtures thereof, as well aspolyelectrolytes, such as uncapped polyacrylates, polymaleates, orpolycarboxylates, lignin sulfonates or naphthalene sulfonateformaldehyde copolymers. The water-soluble non-surfactant salt comprisesa cationic component and an anionic component. Suitable cations may bemonovalent or multivalent, may be organic or inorganic, and include, forexample, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, cesium, andlithium cations, as well as mono-, di- tri- or quaternary ammonium orpyridinium cation. Suitable anions may be a monovalent or multivalent,may be organic or inorganic, and include, for example, chloride,sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, carbonate, citrate, cyanate acetate,benzoate, tartarate, oxalate, carboxylate, phosphate, and phosphonateanions. Suitable water-soluble non-surfactant salts include, forexample, non-surfactant salts of multivalent anions with monovalentcations, such as potassium pyrophosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate,and sodium citrate, non-surfactant salts of multivalent cations withmonovalent anions, such as calcium chloride, calcium bromide, zinchalides, barium chloride, and calcium nitrate, and non-surfactant saltsof monovalent cations with monovalent anions, such as sodium chloride,potassium chloride, potassium iodide, sodium bromide, ammonium bromide,ammonium sulfate, alkali metal nitrates, and ammonium nitrates.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention does notcontain any cationic surfactant, anionic surfactant, amphotericsurfactant, zwitterionic surfactant that is a water-soluble salt.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises acationic surfactant, anionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant, orzwitterionic surfactant, such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate,that is a water-soluble salt. The amount of surfactant that is awater-soluble salt is to be included in the total amount ofwater-soluble salt for purposes of determining the total amount ofwater-soluble salt component of the composition of the presentinvention.

As discussed, below, in one embodiment, the composition is aconcentrated, dilutable form of an end use composition and furthercomprises one or more active ingredients, such as, for example, apersonal care benefit agent, a pesticidal active ingredient, or apharmaceutical active ingredient, appropriate to the intended end use.Such active ingredients may be water-soluble non-surfactant salts. Theamount of active ingredient that is a water-soluble non-surfactant saltis to be included in the total amount of water-soluble for purposes ofdetermining the total amount of water-soluble salt component of thecomposition of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises awater-soluble salt in an amount that is effective, either alone or incombination with one or more other hydration inhibitor components, toprevent or to at least inhibit hydration of the polysaccharide,typically in an amount, based on 100 pbw of the composition andincluding the amount of any water-soluble non-surfactant salt, theamount of any of the surfactant component of the composition of thepresent invention that is a water-soluble salt and the amount of any ofthe active ingredient component of the composition of the presentinvention that is a water-soluble salt, of from greater than 0 pbw, moretypically, from about 2 pbw and even more typically, from about 5 pbw,to about 70 pbw, more typically to about 65 pbw and even more typically,to about 60 pbw, of water-soluble salt.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition and including the amount of anywater-soluble non-surfactant salt, the amount of any of the surfactantcomponent of the composition of the present invention that is awater-soluble and the amount of any active ingredient component of thecomposition of the present invention that is a water-soluble salt, fromgreater than 0 to about 70 pbw, more typically, from about 2 to about 65pbw and even more typically, from about 5 to about 60 pbw, ofwater-soluble salt.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a water dispersible organic solvent.Suitable water dispersible organic solvents include, for example,(O₁—C₁₈)alcohols, such as, for example, monohydric alcohols, such asmethanol, ethanol, isopropanol, cetyl alcohol, stearlyl alcohol, benzylAlcohol, oleyl alcohol, and polyhydric alcohols, such as, for example,2-butoxyethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, alkylether diols suchas, for example, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycolmonoethyl ether, and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and mixturesthereof.

In one embodiment, the hydration inhibitor component of the compositionof the present invention comprises a water dispersible, more typically,water-soluble, organic solvent. Suitable water dispersible organicsolvents include, for example, monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols,alkylether diols, and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises awater dispersible organic solvent, in an amount that is effective,either alone or in combination with one or more other hydrationinhibitor components, to prevent or to at least inhibit hydration of thepolysaccharide, typically in an amount, based on 100 pbw of thecomposition, of from greater than 0 pbw, more typically from about 2pbw, and even more typically, from about 5 pbw to about 40 pbw, moretypically to about 30 pbw, and even more typically to about 25 pbw, ofwater dispersible organic solvent.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises,based on 100 pbw of the composition, from greater than 0 to about 40pbw, more typically from about 2 to about 30 pbw, and even moretypically, from about 5 to about 25 pbw, of water dispersible organicsolvent.

The composition of the present invention is typically made by mixing thecomponents of the composition together.

In one embodiment, wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous medium thatcomprises water or water and a water miscible organic liquid, thecomposition is typically made by:

mixing the hydration inhibitor component as described herein with theaqueous liquid medium,

mixing the water-soluble polymer with the mixture of aqueous liquidmedium, and hydration inhibitor component, and

mixing the suspending agent with the mixture of the aqueous liquidmedium, the hydration inhibitor component and the water-soluble polymer.This manner of addition avoids hydration of the water-soluble polymerand avoids the risk formation of an intermediate composition having anintractably high viscosity.

In another embodiment, wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous mediumcomprising water and a water immiscible organic liquid, the compositionis typically made by:

mixing, optionally, all or a portion of the emulsifier, and optionally,a suspending agent, with the water,

mixing the water-soluble polymer, optionally all or a portion of theemulsifier, and optionally, a suspending agent, with the waterimmiscible organic liquid, and

combining the water-based mixture and the water immiscible organicliquid-based mixture to form the composition. The emulsifier may beadded to either the water mixture or the water immiscible organic liquidmixture, or a portion of the emulsifier may be added to each of themixtures. If the optional suspending agent is used, all of thesuspending agent may all be added to the water, all of the suspendingagent may be added to the water immiscible organic liquid, or a firstportion of the suspending agent may be added to the water and a secondportion of the suspending agent added to the water immiscible organicliquid. Any optional hydration inhibitor component that may be used inaddition to the water immiscible organic liquid may be added to eitherthe water or the water immiscible organic liquid. This manner ofaddition avoids hydration of the water-soluble polymer and avoids therisk formation of an intermediate composition having an intractably highviscosity.

In another embodiment, wherein the liquid medium is a non aqueous liquidmedium, more typically a water immiscible organic liquid, the pesticide,water-soluble polymer, optional suspending agent and optional hydrationinhibitor component are typically added to the non-aqueous liquid mediumand mixed to form the composition.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibitsdilution thickening behavior, that is, as the composition of the presentinvention is diluted with water, the viscosity of the viscosity of thecomposition initially increases with increasing dilution, reaches amaximum value and then decreases with further dilution. The increasingviscosity with increasing dilution corresponds to an increasingconcentration of dissolved water-soluble polysaccharide as theconcentration of the surfactant and or salt component of the compositiondecreases with increasing dilution.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention is useful asa pumpable liquid source of polysaccharide with a high polysaccharidecontent for formulating aqueous end use compositions, in particularagricultural pesticide compositions.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention is anagricultural adjuvant composition that stable, has a low viscosity, iseasily transportable, is pourable and pumpable under field conditions,and is dilutable with water under agricultural field conditions.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention is mixedwith a pesticide active ingredient and, optionally other adjuvantingredients, and water to form a dilute pesticide composition for sprayapplication to target pests.

In one embodiment, the composition is a concentrated, dilutable form ofan end use composition and further comprises one or more activeingredients, such as, for example, a personal care benefit agent, apesticidal active ingredient, or a pharmaceutical active ingredient,appropriate to the intended end use. In one embodiment, the concentrateis diluted to form an end use composition, the end use composition iscontacted with a target substrate, such as plant foliage, and thewater-soluble polymer component of the concentrate enhances delivery ofthe active ingredient onto the substrate.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention is preparedon an as needed basis and is sufficiently stable, that is, a quiescentsample of the composition shows no evidence, by visual inspection, ofgravity driven separation, such as, separation into layers and/orprecipitation of components, such as, for example, incompletely hydratedwater-soluble polymer, from the liquid medium, within the anticipatedtime period, for example, one hour, more typically two hours, betweenpreparation and use.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibitsgood storage stability and a quiescent sample of the composition showsno evidence, by visual inspection, of gravity driven separation within agiven time, such as, for example, one week, more typically, one month,even more typically 3 months, under given storage conditions, such as,for example, at room temperature.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention exhibitsgood storage stability and a quiescent sample of the composition showsno evidence, by visual inspection, of gravity driven separation within agiven time, such as, for example, 24 hours, more typically, four days,even more typically, one week, under accelerated aging conditions at anelevated storage temperature of up to, for example, 54° C., moretypically, 45° C.

1. A concentrated adjuvant composition, comprising, based on 100 partsby weight of the composition: greater than 1.8 parts by weight of anincompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer suspended in a liquidmedium; a hydration inhibitor component comprising choline chloride,potassium phosphate (dibasic) or a combination thereof; and a suspendingagent in an amount effective to impart shear thinning properties to thecomposition.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the hydrationinhibitor component comprises choline chloride.
 3. The composition ofclaim 1 wherein the hydration inhibitor component comprises potassiumphosphate (dibasic).
 4. The composition of claim 1 further comprisingglycerine, a water conditioning agent, one or more surfactants, or amixture thereof.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the water-solublepolymer is a cationic hydroxypropyl guar or a cationic guar.
 6. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the suspending agent is selected fromfumed silica, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheologymodifier polymers, or mixtures thereof.
 7. The composition of claim 1wherein the hydration inhibitor component is present in an amounteffective to inhibit hydration of the water-soluble polysaccharide inthe aqueous medium and wherein the hydration inhibitor component furthercomprises at least one of: one or more surfactant compounds, one or morewater-soluble non-surfactant salts, or one or more water dispersibleorganic solvents.
 8. The composition of claim 1, further comprising apesticide active ingredient, wherein the water-soluble polymer enhancesdelivery of the pesticide active ingredient from the liquid medium to atarget substrate.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the liquidmedium is an aqueous liquid medium that comprises water or water and awater immiscible organic liquid, and wherein the composition is in theform of an emulsion, a microemulsion, or a suspoemulsion.
 10. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein: the water-soluble polymer is selectedfrom polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatizedguar polymers, and mixtures thereof, and the suspending agent isselected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-formingparticles, rheology modifier polymers, water-soluble polysaccharidepolymers other than the non-derivatized or derivatized guar polymer, andmixtures thereof.
 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the compositionexhibits a viscosity of less than 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greaterthan or equal to 10 s⁻¹.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein thecomposition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition,greater than 2 parts by weight of an incompletely hydrated water-solublepolymer suspended in a liquid medium.
 13. The composition of claim 1wherein the composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of thecomposition, greater than 2.4 parts by weight of an incompletelyhydrated water-soluble polymer suspended in a liquid medium.
 14. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein the hydration inhibitor component furthercomprises choline bicarbonate, choline dihydrogen citrate, cholinebitarate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, or anycombination thereof.
 15. A concentrated adjuvant composition,comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition, from about1 to about 20 parts by weight of a guar polymer suspended in aqueousmedium, said guar polymer having a weight average molecular weight offrom about 100,000 to about 5,000,000 grams per mole; a hydrationinhibitor component comprising a choline salt, potassium phosphate(dibasic) or a combination thereof; and a suspending agent in an amounteffective to impart shear thinning properties to the composition;wherein said composition exhibits: (a) a viscosity of greater than orequal to 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of less than 0.01 s⁻¹, and (b) aviscosity of less than 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than 10 s⁻¹.16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the guar polymer comprises fromabout 2 parts to about 12 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weightof the composition.
 17. The composition of claim 15 wherein the guarpolymer comprises from about 2 parts to about 5 parts by weight based on100 parts by weight of the composition.
 18. The composition of claim 15wherein the water-soluble polymer is a cationic hydroxypropyl guar or acationic guar.
 19. A method for making a concentrated adjuvantcomposition that comprises a mixture of an aqueous liquid medium, anincompletely hydrated water-soluble polymer dispersed in the aqueousliquid medium, and a hydration inhibitor component for inhibitinghydration of the water-soluble polymer, comprising: contacting thehydration inhibitor component with the aqueous liquid medium, andcontacting the water-soluble polymer with the mixture of aqueous liquidand a hydration inhibitor component to disperse the water-solublepolymer, wherein the hydration inhibitor component comprises cholinechloride, potassium phosphate (dibasic) or a combination thereof. 20.The method of claim 19 further comprising contacting a suspending agentwith at least one of the aqueous liquid medium, the water-solublepolymer, or the hydration inhibitor component.
 21. The method of claim19 wherein the water-soluble polymer is a cationic hydroxypropyl guar ora cationic guar.
 22. The method of claim 19 further comprisingcontacting an agricultural pesticide compound to the composition. 23.The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is free orsubstantially free of ammonium-containing compounds.